Townson double earns Dale draw with Wigan

Pre-season Friendly Rochdale 2 Wigan Athletic 2 DALE'S sixth pre-season friendly proved something of a non-event as far as the fans were concerned - only 900 turned up - but there were signs of life on the field.

DALE'S sixth pre-season friendly proved something of a non-event as far as the fans were concerned - only 900 turned up - but there were signs of life on the field.

Visitors Wigan have a big season ahead of them, their first in Division One, but Dale competed well and on chances should have won the match.

Unfortunately, three of the openings fell to Paul Connor, who looks so low on confidence he doesn't know where his first goal of the season is coming from.

When Dale were awarded a penalty five minutes before the break, Connor was eager to have a crack. Instead, Kevin Townson placed the ball on the spot and fired home his fourth of pre-season. Maybe getting his strike partner off the mark would have been more beneficial.

Latics carved out the first chance after a minute when centre-half Ian Breckin saw his effort deflected over the bar by Sean McClare. He followed this up with a header well held by Matt Gilks.

Connor's first sniff saw him pull his shot wide before Burgess - growing into his defensive role - headed over from a Bertos corner. Veteran goalkeeper Gary Walsh showed all his experience to stifle Connor when the Dale forward beat a static offside trap to race clear. Townson, following up, could only curl his shot wide.

Former Bury man Jason Jarrett raised a laugh from the Pearl Street Stand when, after knocking McClare flying with a shoulder charge, he resembled a small child in throwing the ball at his prone opponent and stamping his foot. But he showed his true worth when he cut inside Evans and Simpkins minutes later, forcing Gilks to make a save.

Connor's third chance was created by Simpkins, who slid a beautifully weighted ball through the inside-left channel as Breckin and centre-half partner David Tickle were caught square. Connor steadied himself and made good contact, but again the ball spun wide of the target.

After playing second fiddle for most of the first half, Wigan took the lead seven minutes before the break when Grand's slip let in Mike Flynn to nutmeg Gilks from 15 yards out.

The response from Dale was impressive and they were level two minutes later when McCourt's trickery tied up three Latics defender and Breckin stuck out a foot to up-end the winger.

Lee McEvilly got the nod at half time, replacing Connor, and could have scored twice within 15 minutes of the restart. First he headed Bertos' cross over the bar and then had an effort blocked by Breckin after Walsh had saved at the feet of Townson.

Dale's second was full of quality. After neat work down the left, Simpkins swung in a super cross which left the Wigan defence stranded. Townson nipped in behind to find the bottom corner with a powerful header.

Gilks had a close call when his clearance struck Latics' replacement McCulloch, but fortunately it bounced harmlessly wide. McCulloch went close again with a thunderous drive that Gilks brilliantly palmed away, but finally struck the equaliser seven minutes from time after Dale failed to clear their lines.

Dale boss Buckley gave run outs to trialists Robert Betts and Northern Ireland under 21 Gary Browne, but neither had the time or possession to get involved.